Living in fishing’s hog heaven

June 9, 2012

Let's see, within minutes of my back door - or just a short ride away - is some of the best fishing in the world. Not bad.

Want some hardcore fishing? How about catching a 500-pound fish in your Jon-boat. No problem.

Fire up the old 5-horse Johnson and run down to the causeway and throw a small jack or skate by a piling. Let it sink, hold on, wait and pray that your rivets won't pop or your 150-pound test won't be broken by the Goliath that now has you on his line.

Article Photos

Capt. George Tunison

If you are not properly set up with some serious tackle don't even attempt trying to budge one of these critters off the bottom.

How about some of the best tarpon fishing anywhere? No problem. They're here in big numbers.

How do you like yours, bumping boats at Boca, on the flats of Matlacha Pass, off the beach a mile or two? Live baits, lures, flies, we do it all. Choose your method and get out there and take advantage of this incredible world class fishery.

Shark fanatics also are enjoying world class sharking. Where there are migrating tarpon there are submarine sized sharks looking to pick them off.

Want a 1,000-pounder? It's possible here. Shoot over to Boca Grande. There are several there waiting to play tug of war with you (between snacking on 100-pound tarpon). Shallow water sharking is top shelf fun and a chum block hung off the back while anchored will draw some amazingly large ones into skinny water and into casting range.

Once into range try using a live ladyfish under a float, plug or big fly. Pro shark men hang a butterflied barracuda off the side as well as chum blocks backed up by chumming small pieces of fish a little at a time behind the boat. Try cut up ladyfish or any oily fish like mackerel.

Our redfishing continues to be good with under-the-bush tactics working at higher tides, and pot hole, channels and flats on the low. Redfish Pass is a great place to hook a big one this time of year. Get in line and fish along the rocks.

Along about late September thousands school up and ply the flats producing still more world class sight fishing to massive schools of 5-15 pound redfish all the way to Christmas.

Lots of light tackle fun on Spanish macs in the salty river and passes. Easy, fun family fishing. See them chasing bait or watch for the birds hovering and diving into the bait as the mackerel drives it to the surface. Fly rod time and ultra-light spinning rods both rigged with short wire leaders or 40-pound test fluorocarbon will provide an easy 100-plus fish per boat day.

Trophy trout fishing continues and each year it gets better and better. Hot water time, so get out before dawn and throw those big topwaters in one to three feet of clear water, over mixed sand and grass flats for a true southwest gator trout. Also, break out the fly rods and enjoy some great trout fishing. If you're trout fishing anywhere, even near the passes, don't be surprised if your jumbo topwater gets slurped by an alligator-sized snook or big redfish.

Snook? Oh yes, walk the beaches, hit the passes. The snook are doing their summer vacation thing and having a ball. Live baiters and lure guys are catching their share.

Walking the beaches early casting a white bucktail could result in you running madly down the beach trying to keep up with a fat 40-pounder bent on testing your spool capacity.

Offshore a mixed bag of grouper, permit, cudas, snappers, mackerel, cobia, you name it on nearshore reefs to as far as your gas allowance will take you.

Not a bad place for an angler to live.

Capt. George Tunison is a Cape Coral resident fishing guide. Contact him at 239-282-9434 or captgeorget3@aol.com, or www.flyingfinssportfishing,com.